Transforming Short Breaks for disabled children & young people Making the Extraordinary Ordinary 5 th November 2009

Transforming Short Breaks for disabled children & young people Making the Extraordinary Ordinary Sarah Hylton & Alison Cathles

Context: Gloucestershire Population 578,600 Child population 0 – 18 approx 128,000 Disabled children & young people approx 9500 Profoundly disabled children & young people approx 1000

Use of social care resources

We had: a very high threshold for accessing social care families battling for support over dependency on expensive specialist services culture of segregated service provision approximately 350 families getting social care support

We aim to: develop better partnerships with families enable easy access to community arts, sports activities, child care and leisure build community and family support networks promote families being in control and having choices support approximately 1000 families to access short breaks

What do families say they need? Regular breaks for parents/carers/siblings Safe access to leisure activities and child care Transport to community activities and child care Care in the home Parenting/family support Someone to talk to Someone to provide support/advocacy Support to access funding from other sources

What have we learned? identifying very specific outcomes has a major impact on commissioning multi-agency problem-solving can be powerful flexible funding and individual commissioning makes the apparently impossible possible specialist services should not be the first and only option - community/universal services do work if the support is right

complex disability does not always need specialist service the approach & attitude of professionals is key – inclusion, creativity, determination, risk taking and supporting the family in taking the lead works not only for those with ‘low level’ needs, but also for those with profound disabilities and complex needs

CLPT Short Breaks Provision

Principles for residential service Focus on achieving specific outcomes Emphasis on inclusion and activities Capacity for individual commissioning as well as block contract Personalisation

Transforming Short Breaks for disabled children & young people Making the Extraordinary Ordinary Patricia Lomax Commissioning Manager

What is Commissioning? Commissioning means making things happen by working with and through others:

Commissioning Commissioning and market management are key processes that can result in improved outcomes for children, young people and their families and which can also lead to efficiency savings for local authorities.

Procurement must Meet business need Provide value for money Manage risk Ensure compliance

The rules –where do they come from? Internal –Contract Standing Orders –Accounting Instructions –Procurement Guidance External –European Regulations –UK Legislation –The Public Contract Regulations 2006

EU Basic Principles EU states the need to ensure fair competition and transparency in all procurement activity.

Tender Process Project Planning/Gateway/ Approval/Budget Stakeholder Event Contract/Specification Selection criteria

Tender Process - continued Advertising Tender opening Evaluation process/panels Award Monitor

Any questions Discussion Groups “what should we be considering that we may have missed?” “what could we do to help/support prospective suppliers through the tender process?”

Transforming Short Breaks for disabled children & young people Making the Extraordinary Ordinary